Columbus officials are working to find solutions in dealing with the massive increase in train traffic that will be coming through the city.

City officials say that the Columbus Redevelopment Commission has applied for “mobility project” awards as the first step to address the restructuring of State Road 46/State Road 11. They called restructuring the intersection as the most critical piece of a multi-faceted plan that city officials have been working on over the past year.

The increase in train traffic, which is slated to go up exponentially, has loomed large over the city for the past couple of years. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that coming up with a solution has been a focus of his administration since he took office just over one year ago.

Both projects being submitted by the city are meant to alleviate traffic delays at the railroad crossing at State Road 46. One project involves relocating the existing L&I rail line west from its current location. Another, involves building a combination State Road 46/State Road 11 overpass that would take vehicle traffic over the train tracks. She adds that, even if one of these projects are selected, INDOT construction will not begin until 2022. The increase in train traffic, and accompanying vehicle traffic delays, are expected to begin in earnest in 2018.

Other parts of the city’s railroad strategy include the installation of equipment for “quiet zones” within city limits and partnering with Bartholomew County officials to improve alternate routes in and out of the City, including Lowell Road. In addition, city staff is exploring temporary actions to ensure residents continue to have access to city services and emergency equipment and services. The city will also be enhancing communication with the public and sharing railroad information through a new website, as well as and social media.

A 27-foot model of the new USS Indiana, a Virginia-Class Fast Attack nuclear submarine, visited Columbus Wednesday night.

The model, as well as the ship’s commander and other crew, stopped at the Upland Pump House after a full day of touring other Indiana cities and towns. Ray Shearer, chairman of the USS Indiana Commissioning Committee, talks about why these visits are important…

Shearer says this submarine has a special connection with the state it is named after…

Shearer talks about the history of the USS Indiana…

As what’s next for the submarine…

Shearer says that all Indiana counties will be represented in interior decorating of the 377-foot long sub.

For more on the submarine, along with information on how you can support the commissioning committee, visit ussindiana.org.

A bank robbery in Edinburgh on Wednesday afternoon led to a search and vehicle chase that spanned four counties.

At about 12:36 p.m.,a black man entered Main Source Bank wearing a construction helmet, sunglasses and a reflective vest and handed a written note to the teller that said he had a gun and demanded money, says Caitlin Gross, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

After being given an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect drove away in a Chevy Camaro, heading north on the interstate.

A Johnson County Sheriff’s Department deputy spotted the vehicle tried to pull it over, but it sped off. At one point, the driver threw a reflective vest out the window, Gross said.

Indiana State Police joined the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department in the pursuit as it neared Greenwood on I-65. The pursuit continued into Marion County and eventually exited at Raymond Street. While winding through city streets, the suspect’s vehicle became airborne after crossing railroad tracks and crashed into another vehicle in the 200 block of East Shelby Street.

The driver, 35-year-old Gary Ewing of Indianapolis, was taken to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries. After his release, he is expected to be arrested and returned to Bartholomew County, Gross said.

The driver of the other vehicle was treated at the scene and released.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is looking for this week’s most-wanted fugitive. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says

that 31-year-old Amber F. Harris is wanted on four outstanding warrants. Harris is described as a black female standing 5’10” tall and weighing 139 pounds. Authorities say that she has black hair, brown eyes and multiple tattoos.

If you have any information on Harris’ whereabouts, you are asked to contact Capt. Dave Steinkoenig at (812) 565-5940 or the Tip Line at (812) 379-1712. You can also contact authorities via email at sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

The Safe Kids Bartholomew County initiative is warning about the danger of unsecured TV stands and dressers in your home.

That’s after a video went viral showing a dresser toppling over on top of toddlers. Safe Kids says that many flat screen TVs are top-heavy with narrow bases and can be easily pulled off an entertainment center or table. Large and heavy old-style TVs placed on dressers or high furniture can also tip over if children climb the drawers. They suggest using wall mounts for flat screen TVs and furniture straps to keep dressers from toppling.

You can look for more information at safekids.org or you can find out more about Safe Kids Bartholomew County on their Facebook page.

A fake license plate led to the arrest of two people from Hope on weapons and drug-dealing charges.

A Columbus police officer noticed that a red sports car was displaying a license plate for a black passenger car at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night in the 800 block of Werner Avenue. When the officer talked to the occupants, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police.

The driver, 31-year-old Jermaine D. Ford was found to be wanted on an Illinois warrant and was arrested.  He was carrying more than $2,100 in cash, Harris says. A search of the car further revealed a loaded gun, a bag containing marijuana, three large bags of methamphetamine and a digital scale.

A passenger, 30-year-old Cassandra R. Absher, was also arrested and at the jail was allegedly found to be carrying methamphetamine and marijuana, Harris says.

Absher is facing preliminary charges including possession of a handgun without a license and marijuana; dealing marijuana and methamphetamine and trafficking with an inmate.

Ford was arrested on the warrant and on new charges of possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon and without a license, dealing methamphetamine and marijuana and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

A burglary investigation led Columbus police to arrest three people on drug charges in a westside hotel.

Detectives were watching a hotel room at about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday evening in the 100 block of Carr Hill Road when they saw 26-year-old Leeann M. Hoy of Columbus leave the room. She was wanted on a Bartholomew County warrant and when police approached, she tried to flee says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police.

Officers found 36-year-old Wesley D. Puckett of Edinburgh inside the room, who was wanted on warrants from Brown and Owen counties. Police also found in the room what appeared to be narcotics, drug paraphernalia, stolen electronics and a bank card stolen during a December Columbus burglary, Harris says.

Hoy was arrested on the warrant as well as preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and a syringe.

Puckett was arrested on the warrants as well as new charges of possession of methamphetamine, heroin, a syringe and of drug paraphernalia.

A third person in the room, 30-year-old Malerie L. Brachear of Taylorsville was arrested and is facing preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, heroin, a syringe and of drug paraphernalia.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will have to borrow less money this year than anticipated to pay the district’s bills.

Tax money from the state only comes in twice a year meaning the district, like many government entities, takes out a tax anticipation bond every year to bridge the gap. This year, the school district expected to borrow $27 million until the end of the year, but based on its healthy cash balances, the formula used by the bond counsel reduced that to a loan of just under $21 million.

Vaughn Sylva, assistant superintendent for financial services for the district, explains:

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Sylva said that unfortunately won’t turn into a savings, as the interest rate on the smaller loan was higher this year.

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The Town of Hope will have a grand opening Thursday for the new animal shelter named in honor of the former president of the Town Council.

The ceremony for the Paula A. Pollitt Memorial Animal Shelter will be held Thursday starting at 11 a.m. at the new shelter on Jackson Street in Hope. Pollitt died in 2015. She was an avid animal lover and helped organize the therapy dog program at Columbus Regional Hospital.

The town has refurbished an unused well house to be an animal shelter, adding kennels, outdoor runs and doggy doors to the building. The Town Council voted last year to name the new shelter in Pollitt’s memory.

Bartholomew County officials continue their work on rebuilding the county’s IT department. The entire department quit last year due to various grievances. Since then, county commissioners have contracted with Sharp Business Systems to keep the various county systems maintained. Carl Lienhoop, commission president, talked about the contract during Tuesday night’s meeting on the county council…

Lienhoop says that the only area of concern with Sharp, quality-wise, was the speed of work orders being processed. He says that the commissioners let company representatives know that those efforts need to be improved.

Council members agreed to a request from commissioners to move $60,000 from IT department salaries to cover three months worth of contracting expenses.